Yui Aragaki (新垣結衣, Aragaki Yui?, born June 6, 1988) is a Japanese idol,[1] model, actress, singer, voice actress and occasional radio show host.
She is particularly recognized for her beauty[2] and her movie projects.[3] She become popular worldwide for the romantic film Koizora (Sky of Love) as Mika Tahara (leading lady) with Haruma Miura and Hanamizuki as Sae Hirasawa (leading lady) with Toma Ikuta.
Career [edit]
Overview [edit]
Aragaki's career began when she appeared in the junior fashion magazine nicola. Upon learning that the magazine was looking for a new face, Aragaki's sister turned in an audition profile for her. Aragaki won the Grand Prix and officially became an exclusive model for nicola or a "nicomo". In 2001, her fellow nicomo Ayako Enomoto nicknamed her Gakky.
Aragaki expanded her modeling career into gravure in 2004. She also appeared in variety shows and commercials; she is best remembered for her TV advertisements for Pocky. In 2005, she graduated from the magazine and subsequently acted in the TBS drama Dragon Zakura alongside fellow Japanese idol Tomohisa Yamashita and actress Masami Nagasawa, marking her breakthrough in show business. Since Dragon Zakura, Aragaki had been cast in various dramas such as Gal Circle and My Boss, My Hero. Despite graduating from 'nicola', she still appears in the magazine occasionally. She currently holds the record of appearing the most number of times as its cover girl.
In 2007, she starred in Waruboro with Shota Matsuda and Yuu Shirota. Afterwards she was cast alongside Hiroshi Tachi and Shigeaki Kato in the TBS summer drama, Papa to Musume no Nanokakan in which Aragaki plays a high school student who exchanged bodies with her father, a middle-aged salaryman. Aragaki was also cast in the movie Koisuru Madori (Tokyo Serendipity) with Ryuhei Matsuda. Later that year she appeared in the tragic drama Koizora/Sky of Love with Haruma Miura which won Aragaki a string of Newcomer awards, most notably in the Japan Academy Awards. To date, Aragaki has won five Newcomer awards for the movies Waruboro, Tokyo Serendipity and Koizora. Her fifth award was in honor of her role in the ¥3.6 billion-grossing movie, Koizora.[4] Her tremendous number of movie shoots as well as the preparation for her debut album resulted in her suffering from work-related stress[5][6] in 2007.
Outside acting she also released her first album, Sora, and the single "Heavenly Days", a song from Koizora. "Memories", the theme song for Tokyo Serendipity, was included in her debut album. She also performed at Budokan.[7] She also released two singles in 2008, "Make my Day" and "Akai Ito". "Make my Day" was used in the NHK drama Hachi-One Driver, while "Akai Ito" is a cover of a song written and performed by Kobukuro during their indie days, in commemoration of the duo's tenth anniversary in the Japanese music industry.
In August 2008 Aragaki' played intern Megumi Shiraishi in the medical drama Code Blue: Doctor Heli Kinkyuu Kyuumei, with Tomohisa Yamashita and Erika Toda. At the same time she made the movie Fure Fure Shojo. She also appeared in Ballad, with Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, as a feudal princess. She released her fifth single PIECE in February 2009.
Aragaki also hosts GIRLS LOCKS!, part of the Japanese Tokyo FM radio program, SCHOOL OF LOCKS!, together with other U-20 idols Maki Horikita, Chiaki Kuriyama and Nana Eikura. She also works as a voice actor.
Television [edit]
Voice acting [edit]
Commercials [edit]
Official photobooks [edit]
- Chura Chura (2006)
- A Happy New Gakky (2006)
- Masshiro (2007)
- Koisuru Madori (2007)
- Gekkan Aragaki Yui Special (2010)
- Hanamizuki Official Photostory Book (2010)
Discography [edit]
Singles [edit]
| Release |
Title |
Oricon Single charts peak positions and sales |
Album |
| Daily |
Weekly |
Debut |
Overall |
| 2008/07/16 |
"Make My Day" |
1 |
2 |
53,471 |
85,341 |
Hug |
| 2008/10/15 |
"Akai Ito" |
1 |
3 |
34,236 |
64,461 |
| 2009/02/25 |
"Piece" |
6 |
7 |
18,204 |
25,283 |
| 2009/05/27 |
"Utsushie" |
9 |
10 |
15,946 |
22,048 |
Albums [edit]
| Release |
Title |
Oricon Album charts peak positions and sales |
| Daily |
Weekly |
Debut |
Overall |
| 2007/12/05 |
Sora |
2 |
3 |
72,879 |
133,086 |
| 2009/06/17 |
Hug |
3 |
5 |
22,540 |
40,704 |
| 2010/09/22 |
Niji |
2 |
4 |
19,888 |
29,902 |
See also [edit]
Recognitions [edit]
| 2009 |
61st Television Drama Academy Awards |
Best Supporting Actress for Smile |
| 13th Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix |
Best Supporting Actress for Smile |
| 2008 |
45th Golden Arrow Award |
Best Newcomer for Koizora |
| 29th Yokohama Film Festival |
Best Newcomer for Koizora et Tokyo Serendipity |
| 2007 |
50th Blue Ribbon Award |
Best Newcomer for Koizora, Tokyo Serendipity et Waruburo.[8] |
| 20th Nikkan Sports Film Awards |
Best Newcomer for Koizora |
References [edit]
External links [edit]
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Yui Aragaki
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| Singles |
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| Related |
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Aragaki |
| Alternative names |
Gakky |
| Short description |
Japanese voice actor |
| Date of birth |
June 11, 1988 |
| Place of birth |
Naha, Okinawa, Japan |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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Japanese
